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"Once the crown jewel of New Orleans East, the Eastover subdivision has fallen into disrepair since Hurricane Katrina hit more than eight years ago.The subdivision's golf course has closed, and many homes have been abandoned.Voters will decide Saturday if those who live in the gated community will pay substantially more in property taxes. It's an idea some people have opposed, and have now taken legal action.The lawsuit filed in late October by the Concerned Citizens of Eastover aims to make sure people aren't forced to pay a premium while the neighborhood struggles with basic needs.A sign still hangs at the clubhouse of the Eastover Golf Club, but the building is gutted. It's looked that way for years and serves as a hollow reminder of the amenities that attracted people to the area when it was developed in the late 1980s.There is no more club swimming pool or tennis courts. A restaurant is gone, and the golf course is an overgrown mess.\"It's a disaster. It's sad, because it used to be such a jewel,\" attorney Henry Klein said. \"It's now an eyesore.\"Many residents share Klein's sentiments and hired him to represent them.\"All of the homes have lost about 50 percent of their value,\" Klein said.Residents will be asked to pay more despite getting much less in the way of amenities since the hurricane.Proponents said the steep hike in taxes would ignite a turnaround, supporting security and beautification efforts.The proposition to add a special district would mean an extra $1,600 per year in property taxes.Homeowners currently pay just over $1,600 per year, so if the proposition is passed, Klein said the taxes and fees to live there could double.The lawsuit seeks to block that possibility.\"Since 2005, they have allowed this development to exist like this,\" Klein said.Klein and his group are also calling for the resignations of those who control the fees collected -- the Eastover Property Owners Association's board members. He hand-delivered the request Thursday.Numerous board members were contacted by WDSU-TV, but none of them responded about the lawsuit or the call for their resignation.The city of New Orleans also said that because of past-due taxes, it controls the liens on about six pieces of land in Eastover.A representative at New Orleans City Hall said the city does not own any of the properties that it holds liens on.The vote is Saturday, and a majority of the residents will be needed to pass and implement the measure.Klein and some residents in Eastover said there is no plan currently to reopen the golf course in the subdivision.11634858"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wdsu.com/article/group-files-lawsuit-to-keep-eastover-property-taxes-from-climbing/3367093>